Startland News Staff
Sometimes we share credit. The “Staff Writer” byline appears on stories reported, written, or edited collaboratively by members of the Startland News team — especially for quick hits and breaking news.
Recent Stories by Startland News Staff
$2M federal grant boosts K-State efforts to expand region’s digital manufacturing capabilities
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. MANHATTAN,…
Pure Pitch Rally set for October return at Burns & Mac HQ; startups competing for $1M+ in cash, prizes
A new backer — one of Kansas City’s biggest corporate names — will help amplify the laser-focused mission of the Pure Pitch Rally, said Karen Fenaroli, announcing open applications for the 2022 startup competition. Burns & McDonnell, an industry leader in construction engineering, joins the Pure Pitch Rally as a major sponsor of the annual…
Five KC-area projects get green light for $48.2M in federal funds to bolster supply chain, support racial equity, economic growth
A federal push to make U.S. transportation systems safer, as well as more accessible, affordable, and sustainable will boost a handful of Kansas City modernization projects — including two that would reconnect east-west communities within the metro, the nation’s top transportation official announced Thursday. Nearly $48.2 million in funding is slated for local planning and capital…
ROI from PayIt’s recent $90M investment displays value of MTC’s early support, agency says
Marquee successes for two Show Me state companies — including a massive funding round for one rapidly growing Kansas City govtech scaleup — show the value of Missouri Technology Corporation’s early stage investment programs, said state and agency officials Thursday. A key example, they touted: PayIt, a SaaS platform that simplifies interactions between government agencies and…
Tesseract Ventures awarded $1.25M grant for R&D at home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber
One of Kansas City’s most innovative startups announced Thursday a direct-to-Phase II SBIR Grant with Whiteman Air Force Base — teaming the next-generation robotics leader with the U.S. military to launch smart technology with global impact, said John Boucard. “We are honored to work alongside some of the military’s most visionary minds, as we develop…
This North Kansas City hub will be base camp for GEWKC 2022; Deadline for event applications nears
KCSourceLink announced this week that Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City, the metro’s largest celebration of entrepreneurship, has a new base camp for its 15th year. The Nov. 14-20 weeklong event series is setting its main events at iWerx in North Kansas City. Popular nearby businesses like Restless Spirits, Cinder Block Brewery and Chicken N Pickle will…
Rapidly scaling PayIt raises another $90M amid ‘long-overdue transformation’ of govtech
Growth and continued innovation are on the docket as Kansas City-filed PayIt closes a $90 million funding round. Led by the global firm Macquarie Capital Principal Finance, the capital injection is expected to keep fueling PayIt’s commitment to simplify the way people interact with the public sector in everyday places like the DMV and court…
Fairwave adds another Minneapolis coffee company to its fresh-brewed collective alongside Messenger, Roasterie
FairWave Coffee Collective has pulled another shot of growth, serving up news Tuesday of its acquisition of a second Minneapolis-based purveyor in as many years. “We are thrilled to welcome Up Coffee Roasters to the FairWave collective,” Suzanne Gunning, vice president of marketing, said in a release. The acquisition keeps Kansas City-based FairWave on track with…
LaunchKC reviving $50K grants competition with 8 big checks for startups ready to call KC home
After a four-year hiatus, LaunchKC is officially set to bring back its signature grants competition. Early-stage tech companies will have the opportunity to each win $50,000 in non-dilutive grants, plus access to business support and networking. Co-founded by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, (EDCKC) and Downtown Council (DTC), the non-profit LaunchKC’s cornerstone…
New state awards aim to honor ‘Cool things made in Kansas,’ unconventional talent sources
Kansas businesses and entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the Sunflower State, said David Toland, announcing the return of Kansas’ annual awards program aimed at recognizing businesses across the state for the contributions they make to the state economy and to the well-being of their communities. “They are what make our state strong, prosperous and successful…